Murkowski endorses a Democrat for Alaska governor

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA Republican senator just endorsed a Democrat for governor of Alaska, a week before Election Day.

2. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRight. Lisa Murkowski backed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins over Bernadette Wilson, who is the one Trump endorsed. NBC News has it.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOkay, three questions a normal person has. First one: who is running, exactly?

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentFour people, to replace term-limited Governor Mike Dunleavy. Kreiss-Tomkins is the only Democrat. The others are Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat did she actually say about him?

6. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShe called him a young Alaskan with a view and perspective that Alaska needs right now.

7. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd she said, quote, our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions.

8. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's lovely. A senator reaching across the aisle, everybody holding hands.

9. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShe's also publicly unfollowed her own party's pick. Those hands are mostly waving goodbye.

10. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIs this a surprise? Has she done this kind of thing before?

11. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShe was one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump in the twenty twenty-one impeachment trial, HuffPost notes.

12. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHe has called her the Republicans' worst senator, by far.

13. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBy far. That's a strong review.

14. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd it isn't only her.

15. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHer father, former Republican Governor Frank Murkowski, endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins too, in an Anchorage Daily News op-ed with former governors Tony Knowles and Bill Walker.

16. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHer dad! So that's one family dinner where nobody argues about the endorsement.

17. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWho does this affect? Alaska voters, mainly. A September New York Times and Siena poll had Kreiss-Tomkins at forty percent, Wilson at twenty.

18. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the other two?

19. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBronson at fifteen, Taylor at eleven. So he was already ahead before she weighed in.

20. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo she endorsed the guy who's winning. That's a safe pick.

21. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMaybe. Supporters will say she's putting the state over the party. Critics will say she's undercutting the Republican on the ballot. Both can be true.

22. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat did the other Republicans say?

23. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBronson said she's entitled to endorse whoever she chooses, just as President Trump is. Which is a very polite way to lose a poll.

24. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo what happens next? Do I need to do anything?

25. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentElection Day is a week away. If you're in Alaska, you vote.

26. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIf you're not, you watch a senator and her dad pick the same candidate.

27. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the whole thing in one sentence: a Republican senator, her father and two former governors all endorsed one Democrat, and the only man not tagged in the photo is the one Trump picked.